Preparing for the Dune Experiment: Scientists Study Modern Nuclear Theory
A group of American physics scientists is currently engaged in a study of modern nuclear theory in the field of neutrino physics as part of their preparations for the Dune experiment (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment). The aim of the experiment is to examine neutrino oscillations, which are quantum vibrations made possible by the presence of mass in neutrinos, despite their small size. By conducting this experiment, scientists hope to answer fundamental questions about neutrinos, including whether neutrinos and their antiparticles exhibit different behaviors. The findings from this experiment will contribute to a better understanding of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe.
These studies require a thorough understanding of the interaction between neutrinos and atomic nuclei. The Dune experiment will provide new data and enable scientists to progress beyond the current understanding of neutrino interactions, which is largely based on data from the 1970s and 1980s.
Scientists involved in this research are utilizing the method of lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) to predict the interaction between neutrinos and nucleons. Recently published works in the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science have predicted a stronger interaction between neutrinos and nucleons compared to previous forecasts based on old data.
A recent research project conducted by scientists from the University of California in Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory highlighted the significance of forecasting the “factor of the form of nucleons” in neutron-nuclear reactions. These form factors are crucial for determining the properties of neutrino oscillations, which will be extensively studied during the Dune experiment.
In the age of exaflop-scale computing, scientists aim to refine the results of LQCD and investigate more complex processes. These forecasts play a crucial role in interpreting the results of the next generation of neutrino oscillation